Gordon rallies into 10th after second stage of Dakar

PUERTO MADRYN, Argentina -- Spain's Carlos Sainz overcame poor visibility to take the overall lead in the Dakar Rally on Sunday. He won the second stage, a 237-kilometer run from Santa Rosa to Puerto Madryn.

Cup Series driver Robby Gordon finished 10th to move up to 10th overall. He finished the stage in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 38 seconds. He is 21:32 behind Sainz.

Robby Gordon

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Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar, who won Stage 1, finished ninth.

Sainz finished ahead of France's Stephane Peterhansel, the defending champion, by 1 minute, 14seconds, and 1:56 in front of South African teammate Giniel De Villiers.

Peterhansel is bidding for a 10th Dakar title after winning the motorcycle section six times and the car event three times.

Sainz will enter Stage 3 on Monday with an overall lead of 2 minutes, 19 seconds over De Villiers; Peterhansel is 3:51 off the pace.

The third of 15 stages is from Puerto Madryn to Jacobacci, a 551-kilometer race.

After crossing the Pampas, the rally heads into Patagonia, arrives at the Andes next Thursday, drives into Chile the following day, cruises alongside the Pacific for five days -- including a loop in the Atacama Desert -- and then heads back to the start.

The Dakar Rally is being broadcast on Versus, with daily updates on RobbyGordon.com.

Related:
• Gordon 17th after Stage 1 of Dakar in South America